Thursday, November 29, 2012

Popcorn…Noodles…Plain-rice…Chapati with jam…Steamed corn…Bread with butter….Juice…Milk with chocos….

All the above choices, I offer to my daughter time and again and all I get is just one blunt reply...”Nah”.

She’s been sick since last couple
of days with heavily infected throat accompanied by fever and vomiting. Not to
mention lassitude and weakness, followed on its own. I sit helplessly next to
her convincing to eat something which she plainly refuses. It’s been
almost 2 days since she has eaten something substantial.

Seeing your kids sick is the last
thing you desire for. When they are hale and happy, there’s so much cheer and
bliss around which suddenly evaporates with the quite entry of illness. My son
is habitually a quite creature. He finds absolute solace and glee in his own
company so his presence doesn't really make up for my daughter’s trailing dynamism.
The deadly silence at home when she is taken to bed is way too much for us to endure.

Can't stop her naughty gestures even while battling with the sickness

A visit to the doctor only reinstated
my credence that the unceasing weather fluctuations are to be accused for this
illness and infection around. Number of helpless parents clutching their sick
kids wasn't a cheerful picture in the waiting area. The weakness had taken over so much that the
small rides and other play-mates in the kids’ waiting area were almost empty
and no kid wanted to play around. The doctor confirmed an awfully bad throat
infection and the vast list of medication followed.

Like all sick kids, my daughter
is totally weak and no longer cheerful. Strong doses of antibiotics have turned
her nauseated and losing appetite. It’s such an agony to see your child out of
action who is otherwise too much to bear. Her chirpy talks fill the house with ecstasy;
her naughty little feats keep me engaged all the way through, her small loving
gestures makes me thank my stars all the time. I am missing her usual self and I
hope she gets back to what she’s best at; sooner the better.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The below article is published online: http://magicalhomes.in/travelling-with-a-child/

Travelling with children can be a more tedious than
housework, laundering, shopping and office backlog put together. Factoring a
child’s needs into your travel itinerary can be far more challenging than
sticking on that CD of nursery rhymes or making the frequent and unplanned
toilet halts.

However, travelling as a family allows experiences to be
shared and treasured. It can add significance to family time together away from
the burdens of work and mundane routine. You can gain different perceptions on
places when accompanied by kids.

If you plan aptly, the disaster times seem to dwindle, and
the memoirs of the events together get reminisced. Here are some parent-tested
tips to help prepare for a hassle-free and safe journey.

Be flexible with
extra time

As long as you go with
the flow, travelling with a child can really be a delightful experience. Small
kids can get over-excited with too many new places and noises. Similarly,
making your toddler sit immobile or tour for a longer period can make him fed
up and irritable. Carry a sling or a carrier to strap your toddler to keep him
out of trouble. Also, keeping the itinerary simple works wonders. While
planning ensure that only one major activity is scheduled for a day to
accommodate the last minute adjustments if your child gets exhausted or cranky.

Babies and especially toddlers love to wander around and explore
hence don’t expect them to respect the time limits of your travel program.
Therefore, you're more likely to retain your cool if you factor the ogling, delaying,
toilet breaks and grumpiness into your travel plan.

Pick a right destination

A peaceful destination that’s friendly to young visitors
should be favoured. A lazy seaside, family camping, Club Med or similar
child-friendly places are good options. Jam-packed, over stimulating tourist
charms or places without any shade should be strictly avoided. Scout for hotels
that offer good discounts on the rates and some freebies like free breakfast
without negotiating on the child-friendliness and safety aspect. It’s also not
a bad idea to ask about the child-minding services or crèches or other child
friendly facilities and activities.

Packing

Two things you just can’t miss before leaving on that long
awaited trip is plenty of water and a bag of snacks. Flights can dehydrate most
of the young travellers and small toddlers just can’t always hold on until the
proper mealtimes. Raisins, breadsticks, small juice cartons, dry fruits, rice
biscuits, small packets of dry cereal are some of the best bets. Don’t forget
to stock on wet wipes for those messy clean-ups. The journey can also be made
fascinating by dispensing snacks at pre-announced intervals, for example, once
you board the aircraft or after you’ve covered a certain distance.

If you are travelling
with a small baby or a toddler that is not fully toilet-trained, it’s prudent
to stock on the diapers and the rash creams. Also carry a liquid bath soap to
avoid messy handling and subsequent contamination. If you are travelling to
chilly areas, carry loads of moisturising creams and a good sunscreen if you
choose the beaches. It’s also not a bad idea to carry your own electric
repellent or at least a cream to keep those mosquitoes and bugs away. Pack the
clothing as per the climate at the destination; however, avoid carrying too
many clothes by mix-matching and re-using some.

Plan recurrent rest stops

“We spent too much
time in planning our first holiday with our 2 year old son, Vivan. We decided
to drive down to Goa from Mumbai. Everything was a fairy tale affair until my
husband started to get twitchy at the repeated unplanned breaks we were taking
to attend to Vivan and his tantrums. This led to frivolous arguments between us
turning the entire journey into anguish.” Priya, a young mother from Mumbai,
shares her experience.

Driving can often be
fun for adults but seldom for small children. Hence, plan proper breaks in your
voyage to give your child consistent chances to stretch and ramble around. A quick
game of football with your little one or some simple jigsaw puzzles for some
quite times can be good choices. Early start is extremely logical to give you
enough time for that much desirable unwinding after a long day on the road. Had
Priya and her husband considered these breaks beforehand, they wouldn’t be in
those spiteful situations.

Safety first

It’s always a good idea to carry your own childproofing kit
to use at your destination. Make sure your baby is properly fastened in the car
seat, if you are travelling by car. Invest in a pair of good quality removable
window shades to keep your child protected from the sun. This may sound hilarious
but it’s always advisable to dress up your child in some brightly coloured outfits
so that he can be easily spotted at crowded places. Also, don’t forget to put a
small chit with your details like phone numbers and address in one of his
pockets in case you get detached. A number of packing and travelling checklists
are easily available on the internet for more ideas.

Pack a goody bag

Carrying a goody bag with toys, snacks and
drinks is definitely one of the best means to keep your child calm and
comfortable on a trip. Try and include their favourite play-mates, books and
even some surprises. Wrapping them separately and presenting them to your child
once a while will benefit in tackling those fidgety times. Jigsaw puzzles, soft
toys, hand puppets, some coloured paper for drawing, non-toxic crayons and clay
and picture books can prove extremely worthy for the toddlers; while babies can
be kept motivated with some attractive new stuffs, baby-proof hand mirror,
musical toys and rattles, pop-up toys or
teething rings. You need to start building on the collection a few weeks
beforehand.

Medication

Whether they’re jetlagged, out of routine
or eating less healthily, most kids seem to fall sick on holidays. Hence, it’s
particularly important to carry your child’s medical history along. Also, make
a quick doctor visit before the travel to ensure that your child is in good
health and suitable for travel and the environmental changes. Carry the
doctor’s prescription for all the important and common medications; even better
if you carry the medicines. “Last year we were holidaying in some remote parts
of North India when one of my Twins developed an upset tummy in the middle of
the night. Unfortunately, I wasn’t carrying the right medicine and we had a
hard time dealing with the situation. That night taught me a significant lesson
and now I just can’t think of leaving my home without the medication kit, even
for smaller journeys.” Ashlesha, a mother of 3 years old Twins recalls.

Other basic constituents in the first aid
kit should include antiseptic wipes, bandages, sting treatment, and a
thermometer. Don’t forget to pop a small bottle of hand-sanitizer in your
handbag.

Preach and practice

Small children are flexible and shouldn't
be too distressed by a provisional break in routine, but a little groundwork
will help your child relish his trip. Showing pictures of your destination and
chatting with them about what and who you’ll see as well as what you’ll do
there can be really helpful. Whenever you talk to them, make sure you take an
optimistic approach in conveying the enthusiasm and positive feelings about the
impending trip. Your child will definitely take his cue from you and odds are
your little one will approach the tour the same way.

And to conclude, as someone rightly said,
stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey, it
entirely depends on how you approach your trip. Apposite planning, little
positive attitude and endurance will go a long way in making that much awaited
trip thoroughly memorable!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

I am a niche Goenkar.. And however trivial that may sound to you but I take immense pride in being one. Apart from the 'susegado' siestas, one important part of my personality is the creatures with fins and gills... Fish!

I come from a background of hard-core fish eaters. Thanks to my Dad, fish was a part if our meals throughout the year except those one and a half day during the Ganpati festival. It's still considered a customary ritual in some of the Saraswat homes in Goa to cook the fishy dinner on the day of the Ganesh Visarjan. In my home, it's still graciously followed where the men go hunting for the catch to even far away markets.

A part of me feels extremely blessed when I see my children loving the basic essence of my personality. I feel overwhelmed when I see my son, more than my daughter, relish his meals whenever he spots a piece of fried pomfret or kingfish in his plate. My daughter's favourite is prawns fried in basic masala flavours without much spice.

When I got married, I could hardly cook...forget about making those elaborate fishy lunches and dinners. Although, I had made this quite clear to my husband before we were committed, I could sense that he and his father did expect me to at least learn how to cook the basic fish dishes. Cooking is one area where I terribly missed having my mother in law around. My mom used to give me some lessons over the phone which finally helped me overcome my cooking inhibitions in a great way. After many years of trying, I can finally say that I can cook descent meals now that I myself can eat without any inhibitions.

Coming back to the point, I believe that cooking is a great art and some take a lifetime to master it...I am one of them, for sure. My mom is a great cook and whatever I can manage now, I owe it to her.

The patent 'prawns sukhe' in a typical Goan meal

Cooking fish is a complicated affair in Goan cooking. There are different Masalas for each type of fish. Besides, one fish can be cooked into different dishes. Hence, I have always respected the Goan ladies for their super-sharp memory and the perseverance. In most houses, buying the catch is the job of the men and it ends right there. Cleaning, cutting and cooking is then entirely taken over and well executed by the ladies. A fried fish is almost like a compulsion in a normal meal; vegetables being an option and mostly limited to few holy days of the week like Monday; being dedicated to Lord Mangesh.

In Mumbai, where I currently live, finding fresh fish easily is a big challenge making it compulsory to make those weekly visits to bigger fish markets and stock on. After trying a number of such markets, I have finally settled on one at Andheri (W) and I cannot thank enough to few of my friends for their suggestion and few others with whom I tag along.

So, next time you spot me with that big bag early Sunday morning, you know where I am heading to.....!! To the land of the fins and the gills.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

The guy in front of me placed his order. There were
these massive queues at the snacks counters. The young chap behind the kiosk swiftly
got into action. His KRAs are quite strict about the TAT, commonly known as
Turn Around Time in technical terms (Oh! I am sooo missing my Mastek days
suddenly). The lady behind me has almost got into a 'train' mode giving me a slender
shove hinting that it’s my turn now and I rather be prepared... I give her a precise
gloomy look with a tip-off that 'look, I have spent almost 30 mins to reach
where I am and I am not leaving this counter for at least next 3 minutes and most
prominently, I certainly don't care about your eagerness... She reciprocates
with an even dirtier guise.

More than the movies, the ambience at the theatres
has always fascinated me. What really makes it worth spending epic money on
tickets, apart from the movie itself, is an opportunity to watch and judge
different sets of individuals during those waiting times. Just while I write
this on my mobile notepad, I see a young lady heavily dressed up in an opulent
sequin saree with loads of jewellery. She made me ponder whether she chose to
watch the movie only because she missed that last bus that could have taken her
to a wedding/reception. There are others who are so skimpily garbed as if they
will just turn around and request for some help to splurge on some descent
clothing. I am not against anyone’s dressing sense and neither a ‘What-Not-To-Wear’
host so please be aware that these are purely my own personal thoughts; they
should not be treated as offensive in any way.

Love is the ultimate thing on this earth and if you
can manage to bargain for it at a secluded corner in the waiting lounge, there’s
nothing like it. This is the biggest lesson some of the couples, especially
young, newly married ones try to demonstrate except they hardly realise that it
can get really awkward and uncomfortable when you have small kids around who
are more than eager to explore new horizons. But I guess, someone rightly said,
love has no confines and certainly not the time limits.

There are others who are busy putting their babies
to sleep as a safety measure to be able to watch the movie undisturbed. I have
gone through this so I can definitely pacify with them. Some hurriedly want to make
that last visit to the wash rooms before the movie commences. Some want to make
that one quick phone call to inform that their phone will be switched off/silent
henceforth until the movie is over. Some busy preparing their kids with some preamble
about the movie. Some like me occupied by their mobile phones and then there
are some who just like to observe around, again like me!

Finally, I see a huge queue lined up outside the
screen where I am supposed to share some space with 'Richard Parker'. I head
out to get blended with the flock and just while I am about to enter, I
witness this beautiful National Anthem presented by the deaf and mute kids on
the celluloid. Not that I am a great patriot, but this anthem always brings a
tear or two in my eyes. It’s so wonderfully filmed and executed that words are
just not enough to express the feelings about the kids who present it.

And finally, I am in my chair…waiting for the
movie to begin and enjoy my own rendezvous with Piscine Molitor Patel!

Monday, November 19, 2012

It’s been quite some time I
blogged. Got totally busy with my brother’s forthcoming wedding and the ensuing
preparations. Then the Diwali and just while I was still plunging in the verve
of the festival, there comes the news of the death of Balasaheb Thackeray and
another charismatic member of my family. I know that this is not a germane
start to my paused blogging but I still decide to go ahead.

I really wanted to write a lot on
the legend. The charisma that ruled Mumbai and taught Mumbaikar’s to hold their
head high up. The perpetual guiding force for many who had lost the hopes and
succumbed to the situation. But I choose not to. Because, I feel I am too trivial
and slipshod to write about the legend that I really don’t know that well. I
may not approve the ways he adopted to ascertain his point but I salute the
intents and his honest and brave eloquence that endeared the masses on a larger
scale. ‘Tiger’ that he was called, was
an apropos title he lived his life with. With his death, the financial capital
of India comes to a stand-still faster than anything else; such is his
supremacy and the influence on the people of Maharashtra. There will never be
another stern tiger like him. He has gone forever and ever leaving behind a
legacy that needs a terrific leadership to proliferate and nurture.

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Hey...it's me!

This blog is my long cherished dream. After a glorious career with a leading software company, I opted for a sabbatical to nurture my Twins and to ensure a childhood they will always cherish.

This is my private space...my dreams...my thoughts! This is my 'me' where I can express what my feelings are...what my dreams are! This is all about what I think and how I perceive the world around me.

You're welcome to give me a pat on a back or a kick through your comments as I believe that it will only enrich my experience!

I still fumble with ideas and thoughts...sometimes, I still find it difficult to express my feelings...I still fall short of words...but it's all worth for! As this is a journey I have decided to embark only to explore my horizons and I am glad that my dreams are my best companions!